Tag Archives: François Hollande

Cmdr. Marc, commander of the French carrier airwing training at Naval Air Station Oceana. USNI News photo

NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, Va. — Since carrier flight skills atrophy over time, French naval aviators are spending two months training with US Navy air wings so they’ll be ready for missions this summer when their carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) finishes repairs after almost two years in the yard.

A French Dassault Rafale M launches from nuclear carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 23. French Ministry of Defense Photo

The French Navy launched strike fighters to against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria targets in Iraq from its nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) on Monday, the French Minstry of Defense announced. Read More →

This post has been updated with a revised schedule for deployment of French carrier Charles de Gaulle.

France is sending its nuclear aircraft carrier to the Middle East on Thursday for its second deployment this year against the combined forces of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, president François Hollande told the French parliament during an emergency Monday meeting. Read More →

French president François Hollande told reports on Thursday France will have little trouble finding new buyers for two Mistral-class amphibious warships originally built for the Russian Navy. Read More →

French carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) has left the Persian Gulf after about two months of strike operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) militants, according to local press reports. Read More →